Apply for a licence to keep a dangerous wild animal
Information about dangerous wild animal licences is under keeping a dangerous wild animal.
How to apply
If you want to keep an animal classed as dangerous, wild or exotic then you will need to apply for a dangerous wild animal licence.
You will need to print out and complete an application form and send this to us.
What you will need
You will need to provide us with information about the business such as your operating procedures outlining how you meet and comply with each of the conditions of the licence.
The following documents will need to be available for inspection during your visit:
Completed Application Form
Public Liability Insurance Certificate
Envenomation Procedure
Premises Site Plan
Animal Accommodation Specifications
Permission letter from landlord if in rented accommodation
Stock/ Species List (Latin name, common name, sex of animals and quantity kept)
Escape procedure
Payments
You will need to pay a fee for your licence. Please make sure you are aware of how much this will cost.
You will also need to pay the vet's fee for inspecting the premises. We will ask you to pay this after the inspection has taken place.
Start the journey
More info about the journey
Payments
You will need to pay a fee for your licence. Please make sure you are aware of how much this will cost
You will need a credit or debit card to pay by phone
You will need to provide details of your current insurance for the business
Once you have submitted your application, we will check the details and supporting documents to make sure we have everything we need. We’ll contact you if we require additional information.
We aim to determine all applications within 10 weeks of receiving a complete application.
After the inspection has been conducted, the inspector will grant or refuse the licence. Where a licence has been granted, you should expect to receive the hard copy of the licence in the post within two weeks.
Where a licence has been refused, the inspector will provide the decision in writing, stating the grounds for refusal and your rights of appeal.
Renewing your licence
You will need to apply to renew a dangerous wild animal licence every two years if you are still keeping the animal.
What you can do if you haven't heard from us
It is in the public interest that we process your application before deciding if it can be granted. This means that you'll need to wait for our decision before you start operating. If after a month you haven't heard from us please contact us by email or telephone for an update.
What you can do if your application is unsuccessful
Please contact us to discuss why you have been refused a licence or if you think we have asked for an unreasonable condition.
Appeals
If you are not happy with our decision, you can appeal to the magistrates court. A court may give directions on the issue of a licence or on any conditions imposed.
Alternatively you can download our application form here and return this to us via email at environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk